Free resource
Picture the Poet was a poetry programme we ran with the National Portrait Gallery and poetry organisation, Apples and Snakes. This teaching resource pack offers a wide range of standalone poetry activities for the classroom.
Young Poets
Young Poets gives pupils the opportunity to visit famous cultural venues in their city, using the visits to inspire poetry.
About the programme
Through a visit to an iconic venue, our Young Poets programme helps to inspire pupils to write poetry of their own.
Following a visit to a cultural venue, schools taking part receive a workshop with a poet or spoken word artist to help the pupils shape and develop their poems. Teachers taking part in the programme previously have reported improvements in their pupils' attitudes to writing and attainment.
Schools will normally receive
- A teacher CPD focusing on using a memorable experience to inspire reluctant writers
- A memorable experience for students (this could involve a visit to a cultural venue or a socially distanced alternative)
- An online or in person visit from a poet to work with the class on editing and performing their poems
- Membership of the National Literacy Trust worth £100, with access to courses and resources to support literacy teaching in school
- The opportunity for students to perform their poetry either online or in person (TBC)
- A free Audible account full of great audiobooks to inspire your students
- A chance for students to be published in an anthology
Young Poets locations
The programme is currently running in the locations below. Registered participants can find more details, along with links and downloadable resources, on the relevant participants' page. For enquiries, contact the Young Poets programme staff identified below.
Birmingham
Visit the Young Birmingham Poets participants' page
Contact francesca.bonafede@literacytrust.org.uk
Blackpool
Visit the Young Blackpool Poets participants' page
Contact sean.cumming@literacytrust.org.uk
Bradford
Visit the Young Bradford Poets participants' page
Contact sean.cumming@literacytrust.org.uk
London
Visit the Young City Poets (London) participants' page
Contact francesca.bonafede@literacytrust.org.uk
Nottingham
Visit the Young Nottingham Poets participants' page
Contact sean.cumming@literacytrust.org.uk
Stoke-on-Trent
Visit the Young Stoke Poets participants' page
Contact francesca.bonafede@literacytrust.org.uk
Seeking schools for 2021/22
We are currently seeking schools to join our fully funded programmes in Birmingham, Bradford and Nottingham. Visit the participants' pages linked above to learn more about signing up.
Download
Evaluations
Read evaluation reports for our poetry programmes.
Research View detailsYoung City Poets - Evaluation Report 2018/19
This report looks at the fourth year of the poetry programme and its impact.Research View detailsYoung City Poets - evaluation report
This report looks at year two of the poetry programme and the impact it has had.Research View detailsPicture the Poet: school programme evaluation report 2016
This report outlines evaluation findings from the Picture the Poet schools programme, which aimed to increase enjoyment of poetry reading, writing and performance.